SpaceX calls off launch of its new rocket at the last minute

At the last minute, SpaceX called off plans on Thursday to launch the new rocket it hopes will eventually carry astronauts into space.

The company had planned to test out the newest version of the reusable Falcon 9 from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Thursday afternoon.

But less than a minute before takeoff — at 5:47 p.m. ET — SpaceX received an "abort" message, and couldn't get things back on track within the window available to launch the rocket.

SpaceX will try again on Friday between 4:14 p.m. ET and 6:21 p.m. ET. The rocket, and the satellite it's carrying, are both in "good health," the company said in a tweet.

Standing down today due to a standard ground system auto abort at T-1 min. Rocket and payload are in good health—teams are working towards tomorrow's backup launch opportunity at 4:14 p.m. EDT, or 20:14 UTC.

An important part of the mission will be landing the rocket's first-stage booster once it returns to Earth. SpaceX will have its drone ship, called "Of Course I Still Love You," stationed in the Atlantic Ocean to catch it.

Earlier in the day, everything appeared to be on track. SpaceX tweeted that the rocket and its payload were in good shape.